Licensing Laws

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29382, 8 December 1960, Page 3

Licensing Laws

“Caractacus” has “a hard row to hoe,” to get heavier punishment for drunken crimes of violence. Should a sober nondrinking person commit a murder, he can, quite rightly, suffer the utmost rigour of the law. When a half-drunken person does the same, he gets off with a “manslaughter” charge, because the poor dope had drunk himself into a state where he did not know the quality of his actions. This has happened several times in New Zealand in recent years in those awful “party booze-ups.” In all cases the victims were just as dead. Does “Caractacus” know of local option in America and that of 120 counties in Kentucky 83 are dry?—Yours, etc., FRED T. MILES. Ashburton, December 6, 1960.

Sir,—Fred T. Miles complains that the bread shops have to close at 5.30 p.m. while licensing law reformers suggest hotels should be open at night. The Bible says that man cannot live by bread alone. The present Licensing Act was passed in 1908 and is a laughing stock, especially with visitors who point to the 6 o’clock swill. I am sure that our new Government will soon rectify this. Prohibition is now a thing of the past as the vote at the last election showed, and even Oamaru, which had no licence for years, voted for restoration. What is needed to bring things right up to date is to teach people to drink in moderation and Mr Miles can help by supporting this way of thinking.—Yours, etc., MODERATE. December 6, 1960.

Sir, —I was very pleased to read in today’s issue the letter and article warning young people of the dangers of drinking at Christmas parties. I was equally saddened to read your editorial last week about restoration at Oamaru. How anyone can have a good word to say about drink is beyond me. The next few years in Oamaru will show what a curse it is. There will be more fights, road accidents, and broken homes. If restoration is a good thing, why all the restrictions on drinking? Why not let anyone drink? The answer is simple: it is a wrecker. Many in Oamaru in the next few years will curse the day that restoration was carried.—Yours, etc., ALLAN. December 6. 1960.